Three points for the home team on Sunday, and any pretence of a stunning title-run for Manchester United will be blown out of the water. Three points for the away side at Stamford Bridge, though, will put the Red Devils well back in the mix for a top four place, and that outsidest of outside chances for a title, while Chelsea will begin to worry about an increasing gap at the top of the English Premier League table.
Where to Watch Live
The game is scheduled for a 4 pm GMT (9.3o pm IST) start with live coverage on Sky Sports 1 in the UK and Star Sports 4 and Star Sports HD2 in India . The match can be watched via live streaming online HERE in India , while UK viewers can do the same HERE. Catch the action live online in the US HERE, with the same option available for Australia viewers HERE. North Africa and Middle East viewers can live stream the game HERE, with the rest of Africa viewers able to watch the match live online HERE.
With Arsenal and Manchester City winning on Saturday, Chelsea cannot afford to do anything but leave David Moyes with that feeling that has been unfortunately all-too familiar this season – of that wall caving in.
“Read the match programme, my notes,” said Jose Mourinho, who is one win away from completing a century of victories as Chelsea manager in the Premier League. “I start by saying we don’t play against a team that are 11 points behind the leader, we play against the champions, we play against Manchester United .
“That’s the way I start my notes in the programme and that’s exactly the way I feel. I’ve been in the game a long time, I’ve played dozens and dozens of derbies and classic matches, games between the big teams and that’s what experience says.
“On many occasions, the team that looks to be in the most difficult situation appears stronger in the match, that’s why I consider this game especially dangerous. We are going to try to do it against Man United because now we play two matches at home, after playing two matches away, and we have to try to go for the six points.”
Chelsea, who are now five points behind Arsenal, played out a rather puts-you-to-sleep 0-0 draw with Manchester United, a further nine points adrift, on the second weekend of the season, and with a lot more at stake this time around a few more goals can be expected — hopefully.
“In the position we’re in right now, it’d be wrong to say something which I couldn’t either back up or justify,” Moyes said. “I’m more keen on winning the next game and the longer it goes, the more I’ll be able to start thinking about further down the line. But I’m always thinking about the top [of the table] and not anything else.
“It will be a tight game. Chelsea are improving and have started to find a balance with their forward players. They’ve got some really talented players like Oscar and Eden Hazard behind the striker they choose to play. They have got good players and a talented team.
“Chelsea have shown over the years they’re strong at Stamford Bridge and we need to go there and make sure we’re hard to play against. We need to make it a difficult day for Chelsea like they made it a difficult day for us at Old Trafford — I felt we deserved a goal but couldn’t find one on the day.”
Team news: Chelsea: Nemanja Matic completed a return to Stamford Bridge from Benfica earlier this week, and while the midfielder is expected to be a part of the squad for Sunday, Mourinho revealed he would not start.
“Matic will not start the game, I have to show respect to my other players who are doing well,” Mourinho said. “I don’t think it’s the right message for them that a new player comes immediately and plays, so I’m not playing him from the beginning.”
Branislav Ivanovic is still not ready to return, while Marco Van Ginkel remains sidelined, but Frank Lampard is expected to come back into the squad.
Manchester United: Moyes will have to make do without his two best players – Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie yet again, with the superstar strike pair unable to recover from their groin and thigh injuries in time.
“I’d prefer them to play,” said Mourinho who tried to sign Rooney in the summer. “The best thing is to play against the best players at the maximum of their potential. We did that when we went to Old Trafford, they played Rooney and Van Persie together and that was the best thing for us and the game. For us, the focus, concentration and motivation is bigger when they are there so I hope they are.”
Nani, Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini are ruled out, while Fabio is suspended.
Key men: Chelsea: Eden Hazard is finally living up to that big price tag with some world-class performances of late, and the Belgian playmaker will be the one United will have to keep their eye on.
Manchester United: With Rooney and Van Persie injured, the onus will fall on Danny Welbeck for goals, while Adnan Januzaj will need to be at his creative best to unlock the recently-stubborn Chelsea defence.
Expected lineups: Chelsea: Cech; Azplicueta, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Mikel, Ramires; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Torres.
Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Evans, Vidic, Evra; Fletcher, Carrick; Valencia, Kagawa, Januzaj; Welbeck.
Prediction: 1-1
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